Pulling-over machine.



E. BROTHERS.

PULLING-OVER MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 14, 1910.

Patented Nov. 19, 1912.

MT/VESSES 66 2 44 22 tlNllTED @TATEg PATENT @l lt llt ELI BRG'lI-IERS, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T6 UNITED SHOE MACHINERY COMPANY, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

PULLING-OVER- MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, ELI Bno'rnuns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lynn, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Pulling-Over llclachines, of which the following description, in connect-ion with the accompanying drawings, is a specilication, like reference characters on the drawings indicating like parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to pulling-over and other machines employed in the manufacture of boots and. shoes and particularly to the mechanism for securing a pulled. upper under tension.

This invention includes a feature which is believed to be broadly new in that the upper tacking mechanism is made to operate, and n'eferably to carry with it, means for sustaining the shoe against displacement by force employed in the tack inserting opera tion.

The invention is shown as applied to a pllllllIg-OVOT machine of the type shown in United States Letters Patent No. 663,777, wherein the upper is pulled and held. under tension by grippers and is then fastened to the innersole of the shoe by tackers, which for this purpose move from a retracted position, where they are out of the way during the upper pulling and adjusting operations, inwardly to position for inserting the tacks. in this and other upper pulling machines, it is important that the portion of upper being pulled be free and clear about the last during the pulling operation and during any adjustments that may be necessary so that it may stretch freely. To meet these re quirements, the machine has heretofore been provided with last supporters carried upon arms mounted below the last and moved into position before the tackers where advai'iced so as to give support to the shoe against the action of the oncoming tackers. In accordance with the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, the machine simplified by equipping the tack inserting mechanism itself with means for supporting the shoe against the tacking operation.

This invention provides a construction which is much more simple and compact, less obtrusive and complicated, and it saves one entire train of actuating mechanism Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 14, 1910.

Patented Nov. it), 1912.

Serial No. 571,878.

heretofore required for operating the last supporters. lhis latter consideration is an important one because it makes one less mechanism to maintain in running order and in harmony with the other operating mechanisms of a large and complicated machine.

From the foregoing explanation of the object and nature of this invention, it will be obvious that the invention is not dependent for its utility upon the cooperation therewith of the upper pulling instrumentalities mentioned, although in the machine illustrated, such a cooperation does exist.

The above-mentioned and other features of invention, including certain more important combinations of parts and ingenious details of construction, will appear more fully from the following description of so much of the machine of the prior patent, when equipped with the present improvements, as is necessary to explain this invention.

The invention will then be more particularly pointed out and defined in the claims.

Figure l is a front elevation of the upper pulling and securing mechanism located at the sides of the shoe; Fig. 2 is a perspective view taken from below and showing particularly the last supporting and upper clamping means which, in accordance with this invention, is carried by the tacking mechanism. Fig. 3 is a plan view, partly in section, of the means for actuating the tacking mechanisms transversely of the shoe into and out of tack driving position,

The machine comprises a shoe bottom rest 1 against: which the shoe is presented bottom upward, as shown in Fig. l. The upper is pulled and held under tension by the grip pers 2 located at each side of the shoe and provided with tripping devices 3 by which they may be caused to release their hold upon the upper at the proper time to enable the upper to be laid down upon the shoe innersole and fastened. The fastening at the sides of the shoe is effected by tacking mechanisms which are swiveled at their upper ends at 5 in portions 6 of the frame of the machine. This mounting permits the tacking mechanisms to have a movement in a substantially horizontal path transversely of the shoe and. into tack inserting positions and then outwardly into positions where they ofier no obstruction to the free stretching of the upper over the last by the grippers or to any adjustment of the upper which may be found desirable for correctly positioning the upper upon the last. This movement of the tacking mechanisms is effected by the means shown in Fig. 3 wherein one supporting arm of the tac ing mechanisms is indicated at 10. Each arm is provided with a groove in its rear side and into this groove extends a projection 11 from a slide 12. This slide is embraced by a second slide 14, the rear wall of which is formed with rack teeth and the outer end of which contains a spring pressed plunger 15 having an inclined end face to engage a similarly inclined end face 16 on the slide 12 to con stitute a yielding connection between the two slides. The rack teeth of slide 14 are engaged by the teeth of a segment lever 18 pivoted at 20 and engaged also by rack teeth on an endwise movable bar By this arrangement of operating parts, which is duplicated upon the left hand side of bar 22 as may be seen from Fig. 1, the two side tacking mechanisms are moved simultaneously toward and away from the shoe and their movement toward the shoe is yieldingly effected. This movement of each tacking mechanism toward tack inserting position is arrested at a point determined by the position, relatively to the median line of the machine, occupied by the side of the shoe adjacent to that tacking mechanism. The stroke of the rack bar and other elements of the operating mechanism is longer than the movement which the tacking mechanism can have, even with the smallest shoe upon which the machine is set for working, so that after the tacker has been stopped by the shoe, the slide 14 will continue to be moved inwardly and the plunger 15 will be caused to slide up the inclined face 16 of the slide 12 and increase the inward pressure against the slide 12 and the tacking mechanism. The driver bar 8 has a shoulder adapted to rest upon an underlying portion of the slide 14: whereby the driver is held up by the slide 14- against the tension of the driver operating spring, not shown. It is during the movement of the slide 1%, after the inward movement of the tacking mechanism has been arrested, that the slide is withdrawn from under the shoulder of the driver and the driver is permitted to descend for inserting the tack. The mechanism thus far described is, or may be, in its general arrangement, substantially like the corresponding mechanism in said prior patent where it is more fully described, one important difference being, however, hereinafter pointed out.

The tack holders d, of which there are two in each tacking mechanism, are mounted upon a block 30 having an upward extension 32 which is swiveled in the arm 10 of the tacking mechanism. In the illustrated embodiment of the present invention tne block 80 of the tacking mechanism also carries the upper and last clamping means by which the pulled upper is clamped under tension at the edge of the last and the shoe is supported while the grippers release the upper and the tacker secures it while it remains tightly drawn over the last edge. These means are herein shown as comprising slides 35, mounted to move endwise in the block 30 and having appropriately formed shoe en gaging members, the upper one, which may be designated as the side clamp, having preferably a thick block of non-abrasive and preferably slightly yielding material adapted to grip the upper against the edge of the last and innersole and against the side of the last immediately below the edge as shown in Fig. 1. t will be understood that the level of the shoe bottom is determined by the bottom rest 1 and that the yielding side clamps thus can accurately grip the upper at the edge of the shoe for holding it while the tackers wipe the upper over into fastening position and the grippers release it. The lower slides 36 carry the last supporting members which have upwardly and outwardly inclined faces shown in Figs. 1 and 2 which are adapted to wedge under the shoe from opposite sides and forcefully clamp it upwardly against the bottom rest.

The side clamp is normally held by a spring 37 in its most advanced position and this slide provided on its lower face with rack teeth which engage a pinion 38 that engages rack teeth formed on the upper face of the slide and constitutes a driving connection between the side clamp and the last supporter. By this arrangement the side clamp first engages the shoe and,

by reason of the resistance of the spring 37, securely grips the upper at the edge of the shoe before the grippers are caused by the engagement of the incoming tackers with the tripping devices 3 to release their hold on the upper.

TVhile the carriers 10 continue to advance the pinions 38 give to the last supporters an accelerated inward movement which drives them, as wedges, hard under the shoe to resist the downward reaction which tends to take place when the grippers c use to ex rt their upward pull upon the upper. It is important in this connection to appreciate the arrangement herein provided for driving the last supporters, through the carriers 10 into shoe sustaining position. This movement comes from the rack bar 1% acting through the plunger 15 backed by a stiff spring upon the long inclined face 16 of the slide 12 whicn is unyieldingly connected at 11 with the carrier 10, This pronoes ass vides for a continuing and constantly increasing inward pressure upon the carriers 10 and this pressure is transmitted with powerful effect through the pinions 38 to the last supporters to wedge them farther under the shoe or securely to resist any tendency of the last supporters to give way under the tack driving operation. Not only is this entire plan of operation of the last supporters and side clamps from the tacker carrying arms original with me and a simplification of the earlier construction of the pulling-over machine but I have made an important change in the operating mechanism for the tacker carrying arms 10, as earlier mentioned. In the earlier chine in which these arms served only the purpose of moving the tackers to inserting position and then tripping the drivers after the grippers had been released itwas desirable that the inward pressure of said arms be discontinued as soon'as the tackers had been advanced to tack driving position. This was accomplished by forming on the slides 12 short inclines over which the plungers l5 slid on to plain or straight rear faces of the slides 12- as soon as the tacks were driven. These inclines were made short advisedly in order to obtain the advantage that the pressure should be discontinued promptly to avoid unnecessary stressing of the springs back of the plungers and enable the plungers then to slide freely over the backs of bars 12 while the actuating mechanism completed its full stroke and required no adjustment for shoes of different sizes. In that machine the side clamps and last supporters were sustained and operated by their own special mechanism and it made no difference, so far as the operation of the machine was concerned, if the inward pressure which was incident to the sliding of the plunger-s 15 over the inclines was discontinued. even before the drivers were released. In accordance with this feature of the present invention in which it is of great importance that the inward pressure of the arms 10, by which the side clamps and last supporters are caused to serve satisfactorily their purpose, be maintained until after the tack driving operation I have provided inclines 16 which are substantially and materially longer than the inclines on the slides 12 of the earlier patented machine. I. have also herein employed strong springs back of the plungers 15 which are put under continually increasing pressure during a substantial period of great enough duration to insure ample opportunity for tripping the grip pers and the drivers and allowing for the complete insertion of the tacks at both sides of the shoe. It should be here noted that the tacker and associated devices on one side of the machine are liable to meet those on the other side of the machine meet that side of the last, and therefore the driver on one side of the machine will be tripped before that on the other side as more fully explained in Bates application Serial No. tl8,7t3. It is very important, however, in the present machine that the inward pres sure of the last supporter and side clamp of the mechanism first engaging the last shall retain firm holding engagement with the shoe until all the tacks have been driven. The inclines 16 in accordance with this in vention may be of indefinite length and the same or different pitch throughout their length, it being important that they insure the holding of the last supporters and side clamps on both sides of the shoe until all the tac s have been inserted and it being desirable that said last supporters be caused to continue to hold the shoe firmly until the reverse or outward swing of the tack arms is effected in the return movement of the parts to shoe receiving position.

In the operation of the portions of the machine equipped with the present improvements, the rack bar 22 is retracted while the grippers hold the upper under tension after ithas been properly pulled and adjusted to the last. This movement of the rack bar transmitted through the connections 18 1st, 15, 12, to the swinging arms 10 of the tacking mechanisms, and moves the latter inwardly toward and over the shoe bottom. ll hen the resistance to further inward movement of the tacking mechanisms, caused by the firm engagement of the last supporters and side clamps with the shoe, overcomes the tension of the springs actuating the plungers 15, those plungers yield up the inclines 16 and permit the slides 1st to move inwardly with relation to the slides 12 and the driver bars so that the slides 14. are withdrawn from under the shoulders of the drivers and the latter are permitted to descend for inserting tacks. During this relative movement for tripping the driver bars, the forces actuating the last supporters inwardly are increased by the compression of the springs which act against the plunger 15 and the supporters are thereby rendered more effective for firmly sustaining the shoe against displacement by the impact of the drivers.

I-Iaving explained the nature and object of this invention, and described a preferred construction embodying the same, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States:

1. A machine of the class described, having, in combination, means for positioning a shoe, a tacking mechanism between which and the shoe there is provision for relative movement toward and from tack inserting relation, and means carried by the tacking mechanism to support the shoe against dis- 1 placement by force employed in the tacking operation.

2. A machine of the class described, having, in combination, a tacking mechanism including drivers movable over a shoe bottom toward and from tack inserting relation thereto, and means carried by the tacking mechanism into and out of position to support the shoe against the impact of the tack drivers.

3. A machine of the class described, having, in combination, a tacking mechanism including drivers movable over a shoe bottom toward and from tack inserting relation thereto, and means arranged to be actuated by the advance movement of the tacking mechanism into position where said means will sustain the shoe against the action of the tack drivers.

4. A machine of the class described, having, in combination, means for positioning a shoe, a tacking mechanism including drivers movable laterally over the shoe bottom to tack inserting position, means carried by the tacking mechanism and actuated laterallv under the shoe to support the shoe against downward displacement, and yielding means for effecting said movements of the tacking mechanism and the last supporter.

5. A machine of the class described, having, in combination, a tacking mechanism including drivers movable laterally over a shoe bottom to tack inserting position, means actuated laterally under the shoe to support the shoe against downward displacement, and power driven means constructed and arranged for actuating the tacking mechanism over the shoe until it is stopped by the engagement of the last supporter with the shoe and for thereafter increasing the pressure of the last supporter against the shoe until the drivers are tripped.

6. A machine of the class described having in combination, means including a driver for inserting tacks in a shoe bottom, and means moved from and toward the shoe in time relation with the inserting mechanism to support the shoe against displacement by the impact of the driver, said means comprising a bar moving in a plane substan tially parallel to the plane of the last bottom and having an inclined last engaging face shaped to extend under the last.

7. A pulling-over machine having, in combination, tackers at opposite sides of the last to fasten the upper in pulled over position, and last supporters mounted on the tackers.

8. A pulling-over machine having, in combination, tackers at opposite sides of the last to fasten the upper in pulled over position and last supporters carried by the tackers into position under the opposite sides of the shoe for sustaining it against the impact of the tack drivers.

9. A pulling-over machine having, in combination, tackers at opposite sides of the last to fasten the upper in pulled over position, last supporters mounted on the tackers, and means for actuating the tackers together in opposite directions to shift them and the last supporters into operative position.

10. A pulling-over machine having, in combination, tackers at opposite sides of the last to fasten the upper in pulled over position, last supporters mounted on the tackers, and means for actuating the tackers together in opposite directions to shift them and the lastsupporters into operative position, said means having provision for adapting itself automatically to unsymmetrical lasts.

11. A pulling-over machine having, in combination, tackers at opposite sides of the last to fasten the upper in pulled over position, last supporters mounted on the tack ers, and means for actuating the tackers together in opposite directions to shift them and the last supporters into operative position, said means having provision for adapting itself automatically to different sizes of lasts and for upholding the last rigidly during the tack driving operation.

12. A pulling-over machine having, in combination, tackers for fastening the upper in pulled over position at opposite sides of the shoe, and means for actuating the tackers together inwardly over the last bottom from the two sides, and means determined by the position of the adjacent last edge for arresting the inward movement of each tacker independently and for causing the tack inserting operation to take place, said actuating means being constructed and arranged to hold both tackers firmly until after the tacks at both sides of the shoe have been driven.

13. A pulling-over machine having, in combination, tackers for fastening the upper at opposite sides of the shoe, last supporters, and a single means for moving the tackers and last supporters into operative position.

14. A pulling-over machine having, in combination, tackers for fastening the upper at opposite sides of the shoe, last supporters, a single means for moving the tackers and last supporters into operative position, said means being constructed and arranged to hold the last supporters firmly in last sustaining position until the complete insertion of the tacks at both sides of the shoe has been effected.

15. A pulling-over machine having, in combination, tackers for fastening the upper at opposite sides of the shoe, last supporters mounted on the tackers to be carried thereby under the two sides of the shoe, and a mechanism for actuating the tackers and supporters into operative position, said mechanism having provision for automatic adaptation to lasts of ditiorent sizes and unsymmetrical formation or position and being constructed and arranged to maintain the last supporters firmly in operative position at opposite sides of the shoe until tacks have been fully driven from both tackers.

16.A pullingover machine having, in combination, upper tacking mccl'ianism and shoe supporting mechanism including a last supporter, means for actuating the upper tacking mechanism toward and over the shoe bottom, and means movably mounted with relation to the tacking 'iechanism and connected with the last supporter for celerating the movement of the last supporter into shoe sustaining relation.

17. A pulling-over machine having, in combination, upper tacking mechanism, shoe supporting means connected with the tacker and comprising a member having an upwardly and outwardly inclined S406 engaging face adapted to be wedged under the shoe.

18. A pulling-over machine having, in combination, upper tacking mechanism and shoe supporting means, means for actuating the upper tacking mechanism toward and over the shoe bottom, said supporting means comprising a member shaped and arranged to be wedged under the shoe as the tacker moves over the shoe bottom whereby the shoe is clamped between said tacker and support.

19. A pullingover machine having, in

combination, an abutment for the last, grippers for pulling the upper, upper tacking mechanism, means for actuating the upper tacking mechanism toward and over the shoe bottom, and means comprising relatively movable members carried by the tacking mechanism to clamp the upper against the edge of the last and also to give vertical support to the last against the impact incident to the tacking operation.

20. A pulling-over machine having, at each side of the shoe, a tacking mechanism movable laterally toward and over" the shoe bottom, an upper pulling means adapted to be released from the shoe by the movement of the tacking mechanism, a side clamp also actuated by the movementof the tacking mechanism to bind the upper against the last before the grippers release it, and actuating mechanism for the tacking mechanism arranged for continued movement after the clamping has taken place to cause the upper clamping pressure to be increased vvhile the grippers are being opened.

21. A pulling over machine having, in combination, upper pulling means, tacking mechanisms at opposite sides of the last to fasten the upper in pulled over position, and side clamps swiveled upon the tacking mechanisms to turn about a vertical axis and an ranged to yield horizontally.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ELI BROTHERS.

Witnesses:

CHESTER E. ROGERS, LAURA M. Goonnmen.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

